Tiada sapa yg kasi tahu bahawasanya hidup ni macam Video Game. Life is just like video game, with some catch la…
Except the boss fights are bills, your health bar is sleep, and your main quest is explaining to your kids why Internet, Roblox, MineCraft are not basic human right.
I used to think life would be like Mario. You run, you jump, you collect coins. Senangkan? Loncat situ, loncat sini, makan Cendawan (bukan cendawan yg tu ek!!!), selamatkan Tuan Puteri.. yadda yadda yadda.
Turns out it’s more like Doom. Takde tutorial. Pause button pon untuk tgk Map. Bayar bills, buang sampah, vacuum rumah and the bumbung bocor bila hujan.
Then I read it:
Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.
From The Road Less Traveled.
Not from a ustaz or HR townhall. Just a book; but it hit like a final boss cutscene.
Here’s the thing:
If life was a game, and we were born in Malaysia, we’re not playing on Nightmare.
We’re on Hurt Me Plenty. Not the worst. Still painful. Berpoluh jugakla. With occasional MyKad discounts PetroSains (with additional discount being in PETRONAS guild) and the My50 RapidKL pass to soften the blow.
Take my recent side quests:
- A gearbox overhaul that nearly gave me an out-of-body experience.
- A roof leak that turns into ASMR every time it rains.
- Three amazing kids: 15, 14, and 9; each with their own patch updates, emotional DLCs, and snack requirements.
- A librarian wife at UPM; brilliant, compassionate, and also a pro at calling me out when I pretend to rest but scroll TikTok instead. (Nak main game kena setelkan kerja rumah dahulu)
Managing their expectations is like managing a 5-star hotel… are always hungry, emotionally expressive, and somehow allergic to chores.
That’s when Stoicism became my survival tool.
Ancient Roman advice for modern dad problems.
When the kid spills Milo on the floor: “The obstacle is the way.”
When meetings stack up like unpaid parking tickets: “Control what you can.”
When the leak starts mid-night while everyone’s asleep: “Memento mori (refer note sana bawah)… and grab the mop.”
I’m not perfect.
But I’ve stopped asking for life to be easy.
Now I just ask for good sambal, enough data, and a break from surprise expenses.
Because life isn’t a game.
But if it was,
I’m still playing.
Still showing up.
Still the tank, healer, and main quest-giver for this small unit I call family.
Life is difficult. But not impossible.
Especially when you’ve got:
Grace, Grit and Kopi Susu CBTL… yeay and off course, Milo.
And maybe a spare pail for the roof.
A Note on “Memento Mori”
It’s Latin, and it means: “Remember that you will die.”
Sounds gloomy, but it’s not. It’s a reminder to live meaningfully.
To not waste time on trivial things.
To forgive faster.
To appreciate your people.
And to drink your Milo like it’s your last cup — with full focus and no regret.
